How to Choose the Right Heat Strip for your New Furnace

When it’s time to purchase a new furnace for your home or office building, you might be wondering which size of heat strip is best for you. Depending on the brand and the certain product you are looking at, heat strip sizes range anywhere from between 5 kW up to 20 kW. The choice of which size heat strip would function best in your home or place of business varies depending on several different factors. 

At Maki Heating and Air Conditioning, we want to make sure you are informed so that you can make the best decision when buying your new furnace. If you choose wisely, you will likely have a dependable appliance for many years and the right heat strip size could easily make or break the comfort level in your home or office. 

Finding the Right Heat Strip for Your Home

One of the things that’s most important when choosing the size of your heat strip is the size of your home or office. Because a larger home or business obviously has a greater volume of space needing to be heated, you will likely need to choose a larger heating strip to make sure that your unit functions efficiently. If you choose a strip that is too small for a very spacious house or building, though the furnace may work well, you may still feel cold because it may not be able to heat your home in a timely manner.

Another factor when deciding which size heat strip to choose is the specific climate in which you live. Luckily in Northern California, we don’t experience the same freezing temperatures as the Midwestern or Northeastern parts of the United States. We can typically get away with a small to medium size heat strip here in California because unless you live in the mountains, our temperatures don’t drop to the same frigid lows that some of the country experiences.

Size, Location, and More!

The third factor to consider is the size, location, and amount of windows in your building. If you have poorly insulated windows that are not double pane, cold air comes quicker and easier into your home. If you have many large windows throughout the space, they can transmit the cold more than a home with fewer windows. Additionally, if you have a wrap-around porch or other windows placed so that they cannot receive much direct sunlight, you may also have a harder time heating your home with natural energy from the outdoors, in which case you may want to choose a larger heating strip. 

Insulation Plays a Role in Your Heat Strip Needs

Finally, the amount and quality of insulation in your building will help determine which size heat strip you need to efficiently heat the area. If your home or business is very well insulated you can choose a smaller heat strip because any heat generated will stick around longer than a home or office that is poorly insulated. 

Choosing a heating strip that is slightly larger than the standard size for your furnace is typically not too expensive and well worth it if you are debating between two sizes. It’s always a good idea to go with a slightly larger than standard size since the cost is typically very minimal. 

Work With Maki For The Top Furnace Advice!

At Maki Heating and Air we can advise you on what type of furnace to purchase, which brands come with the best warranties, which are easiest to maintain, and which heat strip size is right for you. As a home owner or business owner it is always a good idea to make sure you weigh all the factors when choosing a new furnace since any heating system is a big investment that if done correctly, can provide many years or even decades of climate comfort.

Call us today at (530) 885-3449 or (916) 782-9242 and we can schedule a time to install a new furnace in your home, give your old one a tune-up or deep cleaning and answer any questions you may have. We serve the Auburn, California foothills and Greater Sacramento Area, and can’t wait to show you what we can do for you!